Weighing and sacking machine



May 27 1952 o. T. HORN 2,598,260

wExGHING AND sAcxING MAHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l BY d/amy Wmv;

May 27, 1952 o. T. HORN 2,598,260

WEIGHING AND SACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ovid 7'. Horn IN1/EN TOR.

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Auameyx May 27, 1952 o. T. HORN WEIGHING AND sAcKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 QQ NQ wcm www E E n e umm www 1I- m w V--- S R. m, n ww Hm v mum .m V o w Y n.2 vm NS d ma mmVQN l m3 .QQ Q @nl O. T. HORN WEIGHING AND SACKING MACHINE May 27, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 Ovid 7'. Horn INVENTOR.

MM M@ May 27, 1952 o. T. HORN 2,598,260

WEIGHING AND SACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 driven and Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE WEIGHING AND SACKING MACHINE vid T. Horn, Alamosa, Colo.

Application December 26, 1947, Serial No. 793,801

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic machines for sacking goods in measured quantities determined by weight and it has for its general purpose to provide a machine of this type which is simple, eicient and inexpensive and which may be used for industrial and agricultural products of widely different nature, while requiring only a minimum of attention and labor.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sacking and weighing machine which operates continuously, but weighs and sacks intermittently at short intervals, and delivers the sacks, when filled, for further disposition, said machine being however provided with a single driving means for both the continuous and the intermittently operative mechanisms, the latter being provided with means for returning them into their original position, so that a perfect timing of the operations may take place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a weighing mechanism limiting the quantity delivered to the sack lling mechanism, by means of an electric switch operated by a weighing scale which initiates a series of purely mechanical operations, resulting ultimately in the return of all mechanisms into their original position and state before such release.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a Weighing mechanism which causes intermittent stoppage of the delivery and thereby subdivides the continuous feeding operation into a series of intermittent sack feeding and sack conveying operations, by using an electric release mechanism, operated by the weighing mechanism which initiates the operation of a series of means resulting in the intermittent stoppage of the delivery, in the discharge of the weighed quantities of goods into the sacks, into the transfer of lled sacks to a conveyor and in the operation of said conveyor, ultimately delivering the lled sacks for further disposition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a driving mechanism which has permanently intermittently driven members coupled and brought into engagement upon operation of the electromagnetic releasing means, controlled by the weighing appliance which intermittently driven members start a series of intermittent and timed operations of members driven by them, ultimately resulting in a return of all members involved in such operations into their initial condition and position.

In addition to these objects of a general nature, a. number of more specific objects will be apparent which can only be explained in connection with the detailed specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of the invention. It is however to be understood that the embodiment illustrated, is shown by way of example only, and was selected in order to explain the principle of the invention and one of the best modes to apply this principle. It does not represent the sole embodiment of the invention and modifications of this embodiment insofar as they are based on the same principle, are not necessarily departures from the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of the automatic machine.

Figure 2 is an elevational sectional side view of that part of the machine which delivers goods to the Weighing mechanism.

Figure 3 is a partly sectional elevational detailed view of a mechanism shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevational end view of that part of the machine which has been shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational' end view of the weighing mechanism located adjacent to the mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an elevational partly sectional side view of the sacking mechanism.

Figure 7 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed plan view of a conveyor mechanism and its drive shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an end view of the conveyor mechanism illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional elevational view of a switching mechanism operated by the weighing scale.

The weighing and sacking machine as illustrated in Figure 1 consists essentially of a conveyor system generally indicated at II provided with a feeding hopper I2 and with means generally indicated at I3 for distributing the goods evenly on the conveyor. This conveyor is driven by. means of a system of pulleys and belts by motor I5. The conveyor system delivers its goods through a conveyor housing I6 forming a channel provided with gates into a container or receptacle I'I connected with the weighing scale I8 which controls the aforesaid gates and stops further discharge into the vessel or container I'I when a quantity of a predetermined Weight has been delivered.

After completion of the charging and Weighing operation, the container or receptacle I1 discharges its contents into the chute and hopper I9 of the sacking mechanism generally indicated at 20 and comprising holders for sacks 22 carried on a turntable 24. The turntable is rotated intermittently and is provided with fresh sacks by an attendant while the sacks lled with goods are delivered to a conveyor generally indicated at 25 which is driven by the turntable 24 and conveys the sacks filled with predetermined quantities of goods to a point from where they may be picked up and shipped by any desired means of transportation.

As seen from Figure 2 the conveyor system H comprises an endless inclined belt conveyor 28 which may consist either of a single belt or of two separate parallel conveyor belts driven conjointly. Separate sections may be formed by a dividing partition strip 3| (Figure 9). This division of the conveyor is of advantage for the transportation of certain goods, while for other goods an undivided conveyor is preferable. The inclined conveyor belt is driven by rollers 85 provided at the upper end and runs over rollers 6G. The belts may be provided with transverse cleats or upstanding boards or ledges 33 to facilitate transportation on the inclined belt and to maintain the uniform distribution of the goods along the belt.

The inclined conveyor belt is preferably housed in a frame 31 and runs within a trough 34 with spreading side walls 3S (Fig. 9) which may be provided with lateral 'adjustable curved guides 38 consisting of metal sheets bent to a varying degree. The adjustment may be made by means of threaded bolts and nuts 39, held on a bracket 4l, which are xed on said sheets. These guides delineate the space within which goods maybe carried by the conveyor belt'28 so as to conne the conveyor load to a certain zone, thus avoiding lateral accidental dropping of goods.

At the lower end of theconveyor the hopper I2 is arranged into which the goods to be sacked are delivered by hand or by the desired transportation means. This lower end may be supported by legs 43.

In order to avoid irregular or uneven loading of the conveyor belt a distributing load regulator i3 is provided which consists of a hub member 45 to which steel blades 46 with a rubber lining and a rubber tip 41 are iixed. The hub member 45 is seated on an axle S8 carried by bearings xed on a bracket i9 which is adjustably supported by the frame 31. The adjustment means for the bracket are not shown and are provided to adjust the height of the load regulator over the belt.

The blades push back those excess goods which may have accumulated on the belt and may have reached an excessive height. They distribute the goods more or less evenly in a longitudinal direction and thereby prevent irregularities in the delivery of goods to the other parts of the system.

At the upper end the conveyor belt 28 is carried by a frame structure lie, which in the example shown is provided with wheels 5i! to facilitate transport, but which may be fixed and supported by legs where required. This frame supports the driving mechanism and the further mechanisms and appliances to be described below. On its upper end a further horizontally disposed endless conveyor 52 is arranged having one end located below the end of conveyor 28, while its other end is located adjacent a closable opening 513 of a housing forming a channel l5 supported at the upper end of the frame structure 48.

A chute plate 6'! may be arranged above the end of conveyor 52 and between it and conveyor 28 so as to convey the goods dropped or discharged from the conveyor 28 to the conveyor 52.

`veyor 52 to the receptacle i1.

The conveyor system is driven by motor l5 by means of pulleys 51, 58, 59, 68, 6l, 62 and belts which may run over belt tensioners B3. The regulator I3 is driven by a pulley 64 and belt driven from the lower conveyor shaft.

The opening 54 is controlled by a main gate shutter 10 and an overflow gate shutter 1l, which serve to limit the quantity delivered from con- The' main gate shutter 18 is carried by a guiding frame 12 which consists of tubular members sliding along guide rods 13. A spring 15 is interposed between said tubular members and a transverse bar 16 of the -frame 48 in which the guide rods 13 are xed.

These springs are compression springs having the tendency to move the frame upwardly. The guide frame 12 in addition is provided with a transverse member 83 carrying a projecting lug 11 and a catch 1S for purposes to be described.

The catch 18 cooperates with a pawl 19 which is pivoted at 8l and is subjected to the pressure of a small spring 82 (Figure 3) urging it to engage the catch 18. This spring is wound around a bar 84 provided with a head 85 and is operated by the armature 86 of a solenoid 88. This armature is also under spring tension (not shown in the figure). The spring has the tendency to move the armature 86, the outer cap of which is only shown in Figures 2 and 3, `towards the right in these gures and thereby compresses the small spring 82 and keeps the pawl 19 in a position in which it engages catch 18. It will Vtherefore be seen that under normal conditions when no current flows through the solenoid 88, the pawl 19 will engage the catch 18. This pawl is therefore capable of holding the guiding frame 12 and the shutter 1B in its lowermost position against the action of compressed springs 15. However, when the solenoid is energized the core and' armature are moved towards the left, disengaging pawl 19 and releasing the frame 12 which moves upwardly. The gate Vpanel 10 moves upwardly with it and the opening 54 is closed by this movement.

Brackets 81 (Figure 4) are secured to the tubular members of the guiding frame 12 and support links 89 to which a push rod 9| is pivoted. The

push rod is linked to the actuating vlever 92 of the flap door 1I which serves to prevent an overflow of the goods over the main gate.

In front of the opening 5d the weighing receptacle l1 is placed, with one of its sides forming a chute leading from the opening 54, along which the goods to be weighed and sacked are sliding into the receptacle. The weighing receptacle is moreover provided with a discharge snout 93 and is tillable on its base member 94. A hinge 95 is provided to permit said tilting movement. A xed overilow shield 96 may be provided above the snout 93 of the receptacle I1 which is carried by an arm projecting from the base member 94 and which prevents the discharge of goods through the snout when the receptacle rests on its base and is in its filling position.

The base member 94 of the weighing receptacle is connected with the frame of a scale I8 the frame or base of which is shown at 91. This scale is supported by a transverse frame |33 carried by frame Gil. It may be of any approved type and differs from customary scales only insofar as the hand or pointer of the scale or an arm connected therewith is provided with means for closing the contacts of a switch lili! when a certain weight indication has been reached. Scales of this type, however, are also well known and need not be described in detail. In the drawings and especially in Figure 10, the pointer, indicator arm or special arm which operates the switch has been indicated at 99.

The switch |00 is illustrated in detail in Figure 10. It comprises a base member |0| in the form of a closed box or sleeve which may be surrounded by a protective housing. The base member |0| carries two insulating movable switch arms |02, |04. The arm |04 is carried by means of the screws |03 provided with spacers while the arm |02 is hinged to arm |04 by means of hinge |06. Each switch arm carries platinum covered contacts I0, |2 respectively, connected with contact plates which are provided with the switch terminals ||4, ||6 connected with the wires H8, |20.

The switch arm |02 is moreover provided with a metal blade which projects into the scale mechanism and which is engaged by the scale pointer or arm 99 when the latter reaches the predetermined weight indication for which the scale is adjusted and which corresponds to the weight to be discharged into a sack. A small spring |22 holds the two switch arms apart and a back rest for arm |02 is provided by means of screw |05. It will be obvious that when pointer 99 reaches the position corresponding to the weight assigned to a sack it presses blade ||5 downwardly (in Figure 10) and thus closes the contacts |0, I2 against the action of spring |22. When the pointer or arm returns the spring |22 separates the contacts and interrupts the circuit of which the switch forms a part.

The tilting mechanism for the weighing receptacle |1 and the release and return mechanism for the sliding frame 12 is operated by means of the gear wheel |25 (Figures 2 and 6) which is driven from the motor |5 by means of pulleys 51, |21 and |28. This gear wheel cooperates with two mutilated gear wheels |30 and 230 of which only the former will now be considered the latter serving a purpose to be described below. The gear wheel |30 carries a stop lug |32 which engages an arm |34 hinged at |38 to the transverse frame |33 and provided with a slot |35 which engages a pin |36 on sliding frame 12. It will be clear from Figure 2 that when said frame is in its lower position in which the pawl 19 engages catch 18 the end of the arm |34 engages the stop lug |32 and prevents the gear wheel from rotating. In this position the mutilated part of the gear wheel |30 faces the driving gear wheel |25 and the wheels are therefore out of engagement.

The gear wheel |30 is mounted on a shaft |40 carrying three arms. Arm |42 (Figure 5) cooperates with projecting lug 11 and is located in the middle. Arm |44 is a curved lifting arm as seen in Figure 2 and cooperates with a tilting rod |48 passing through a guide sleeve |49 fixedly mounted on frame 91 and provided with a rounded head which is applied against a push plate |41 mounted on the bottom of weighing receptacle |1. When the shaft turns in a clockwise direction the arm engages the tilting rod |48 and lifts it, thereby lifting that side of the receptacle I1 which is turned toward the opening 54 and tilting the said receptacle around its hinge S5. The curved part of the arm holds the tilting rod |48 in its tilted position for a certain time, after which, upon further rotation, the arm |44 will leave the tilting rod which will fall back under its own weight. A suitable collar or other stop for holding and stopping the tilting rod is provided but is not shown in the drawing.

The third arm |46 on shaft |40 is connected with a spring |50 (Figures 1 and 5) which is xed to the transverse frame |33 and which is under tension, when the arm is held in the position which corresponds to that position of the gear wheel in which the stop arm |34 engages stop lug |32. The spring provides the initial drive upon release of the stop lug |32 which is necessary to move the gear wheel |30 through the mutilated section so that its teeth engage those of gear wheel .|25. It will be clear that once such engagement took place the spring will be carried around and will be alternatively released and tensioned, iinally remaining in its tensioned state upon re-engagement of arm |34 and stop lug |32.

Behind the tilting receptacle I1 a chute 5| (Fig. 6) leads to the hopper I9 of the sacking mechanism 20 which is provided with a downwardly directed discharge opening |54 through which the predetermined quantity or number of goods may be discharged into the sacks. This opening |54 is preferably encircled by steel springs |55 spaced around the discharge opening and converging to some extent so as to form a discharge cone with expansible sides. These steel openings reduce the size of the discharge opening proper and make it expansible so as to prevent clogging or congestion in the discharge opening |55. The flow of goods therefore is uninterrupted.

The sacking device consists of a turntable 24 which comprises a central disk |62 from which a number of sack holding frames |64 are projecting, four being shown in the drawing (Figure 7) in the four main positions a, b', c, d which the sacks may occupy during the sack filling, removing, replacing operation. It is however to be understood that, if a larger number of steps is desirable, the number of sack holding frames and the driving mechanism is to be changed accordingly. Each frame |64 holds two pairs of sack expanding blades |65 which are pivoted in the frame near their upper ends and carry eyes |66 close to these ends. The blades of each pair are linked by a tension spring |61 attached to the eyes |66 of the blades. Above the eyes and close .j to or at the ends of the blades guiding heads |68 are arranged. The four blades of the two pairs are held by the springs in such a position that, between them, they hold a sack 22 which has been slipped over them in a fully expanded state under some tension.

The sack 22 rests on a fixed supporting table |10 supported by arms |12 which project from a sleeve |13 surrounding and holding a shaft |14, which is journalled in suitable bearings and to which the disk |62 of the turntable 24 is keyed.

The supporting table |10 as seen in Figure 7 occupies only a sector and its edge |68 is so positioned that the sack 22 when moved into position b is advanced beyond and clears the supporting table 10. The sack 22 therefore drops under the influence of gravity onto a conveyor as soon as this position has been reached.

The transportation of the sack from one position to the other is effected by means of the turntable 24. For this purpose the turntable is provided with a number of pins |15, four being shown in Figure 7 which move the turntable from one of the four positions a, b, c, d, occupied by the sack 22 into the other. They are arranged on a circle and spaced so as to be at from each other. These pins are pushed by a dog |16 having a head embracing the pins which is linked to a push rod |18 guided and held in a guide sleeve |19. As the rectilinear` movement of the dog and the circular movement of the pin do not fully land lblades |95are moved into position c.

coincide even under'thelmost favorable conditions, in the event that the pin is moved through anarc of 90, the push rod may be provided with 'a-pivot joint |11 permitting a certain amount of rlateralmovementl of the' dog dur-ing the moveadapted to be engaged and to'be driven by the Atoothed gear wheel' |25.

Wheel 230 is 'provided with a stop lug 228 which cooperates with a tooth 225 'on astop arm222. This arm/is attached to stop arm |34 fulfilling a similar purposev in connection with toothed wheel |30 by means of link 220. Stop arm I 34`as explained 'has a slotted end portion |35 which engages alpin |36"on`slide frame 12. It `will thusA be clear that the lifting 'of the slide frame 12 entails'not'only the' lifting of' the stop'arm` |34 and the disengagementof stop |32 but also lifts stop arm 222 by means of link 220 and thereby releases gear' wheel 230.

fThisf gear wheel is mounted "on" a' shaft `2|8 which carries an arm 2 I6 attached toa spring 2 4 (Figure 1)' which in its turn isl fixed to a stud 2`|2 lon the frame |33. The spring'isunder ten- -sion when the tooth '225 engages the stop lug 228. When the stop lug` is releasedthe spring turns the toothed wheel aroundto the extent 'necessary tosecure engagement of themultilated vwheel 239 withigear wheel' |25.

4Above the turntable and in such height asv to engage the guiding heads |59 are two fixed expansion frames |84 and |86. Expansion frame |84 is arranged along an arc centered above that `sideof the turntable' which has'fbeen designated as position c. It comprises two' arcuate guide rails' |88'and a' number of struts |90 for holding them, whichiare vpreferably fixedly supportedv on arsleeve |92 surrounding the shaft |14. Therails 38 are substantially parallel, but theirends convergev toward the end of the frame 'facing the direction of movement. They are so arranged that they occupy the space between the heads 68 of the sack expansion blades |65'when moved towards them. y'lhe two converging ends of the railsat the frontend ofI the frameare arranged at a distance smaller than that ofthe heads |68 ofv a pair, but their distance increasesv towards their rear end and therefore theheadsstart' to runfon the guidingrails |88 when the frames |64 Behind the initial stretch therails are so spaced that their distance is larger than thedistance between the heads in positional where the sack is held in an expanded position. 'The heads |68 4are therefore' `moved away from' each other and the sack holding blades move towards each other andare held in this positionwhen' the frame |64 of the turntable vhas been moved to position c and while it is moved to position d.

-Above the position marked d, f a second expansion frame |89 is arranged,l consisting again of two parallel arcuate rails |94v arranged at the same distance at which the rails |88 are arranged so that the rails |94 form a continuation of the rails |88. They'are however relatively short and they cover an'arc' corresponding to the position d. They are arranged on and joined by a number of struts |96 which are connected with the sleeve |92 by means of pivot joints |98 with horizontal pivots |99. Moreover the struts joining the rails |94 are projecting outwardly andcarry a handle bar 290, whichcan-be lifted, thus removing the expansion frame |89 from its position between the guiding heads |68. These heads which had been forcedapart will therefore move again towards each other under the influence of their ysprings |61.

The-expansion frame |86 is arranged in the station in which the sacks are slippedover the blades and in which the attendant performing this job is stationed. It will be readily seen that the sack holding -blades of a sackl holding frame |64 when arriving in position d are pressed rinvshaft |14 which is held by means not shown. 'The shaft is held in bearings 208 supported in any appropriate manner. The shaft |14 Acarries la -sprocket wheel 2|0 which drives a further wheel 209 by a chain 201. The latter drives a shaft 205 at the end of which a bevel gear wheel 20| is arranged. This gear wheel meshes with a second bevel gear wheel 203 on a shaft 233 which drives the roller 23| of an endless belt conveyor 234. This conveyor is placed directly beneath the supporting table |10 and is provided with`two sprocket chains, one at each side of the belt, and between these chains transverse 'partition 'walls 23S are supported. These walls are so spaced that they mayv receive a sack between them. On account of the positive drive of the conveyor and 'its linkage to the turntable 24 lan'` open compartment will always be found underneath the'position b in which the sack drops from the supporting table to the conveyor. Walls at right angle to the transverse walls (not shown) may be attached to the transverse partition walls `so that a compartment closed on all sides may be formed in which the sack may be held in every direction. The conveyor'234 carries the sacks to the desired place and may discharge them in any appropriate manner, this discharge being no longer part of or related to the present invention.

The operation of the weighing and sacking machine, as far as not already described is the following:

The goods to be weighed and sacked are fed into the hopper |2 and are carried upwardly by the conveyor 28 between the cleats or partitions 33, the regulator I3 sweeping over the accumulated goods and distributing them more evenly `if they tend to accumulate near the cleats.

At the upper end the conveyor 28 dumps the goods onto the conveyor 52 which they reach by passing along chute 61. If the weighing receptacle is assumed to be empty at the time, the goods will be conveyed along conveyor 52 to the opening 54 and from there slide along the chute forming side walls of the receptable |1 into the same. As the receptacle is on the beam of the scale I8, the scale registers the weight of the goods delivered and when the predetermined Weight has been reached the pointer 99 (or the arm connected with the pointer) pushes blade |5and closes contacts I0 and ||2. The closing of the switch contacts'energizes the solenoid magnet 88, whereby armature 85 is attracted and bar 84 is moved to the left in Figures 2 and 3. This movement withdraws pawl i9 and releases the slide frame, which is under the tension of springs '15. The frame 72 moves upwardly and the gate 'I5 closes the opening 54, while simultaneously overflow gate il is closed by means of push bar 9| and arm S2. rIhe goods during the following short period therefore accumulate behind the closed gates.

The upward movement of frame '|2 also lifts arm |34 (Figures 2 and 6) from stop lug |32 and the tension of spring |55 acting on arm |46 brings mutilated toothed wheel |35 into engagement with driving gear |25 permanently driven by means of motor I over pulleys 5l, |2`| and |23. Simultaneously stop arm 222 is lifted and starts an operation to be described below. The movement of gear wheel |35 now engaging wheel |25 rotates shaft |45 and the arms |44, |42 and |45. The curved arm H44 pushes tilting rod |48 upwardly and lifts the rear portion of weighing receptacle I'J. This receptacle is tilted and empties its contents into chute |5| and hopper I9, from which they are discharged into a sack. Meanwhile however the gear wheel continues to rotate. The curved arm |44 is moved beyond the tilting rod and the tilting rod |45 drops back, the weighing receptacle falling back into its position of rest. The arm |42, thereafter catches the lug H on slide frame l2 and presses the slide frame downwardly. This downward movement again opens the gates 'lil and ll so that the weighing receptacle is again filled.

As switch |55 has been reopened upon the emptying of the receptacle the solenoid magnet becomes de-energized. Therefore the spring (not shown) acting on the armature presses the armature 85 to the right and holds pawl 19 in a position in which it will engage catch 78 as soon as frame T2 is pushed downwardly. Further rotation of wheel |30 disengages arm |42 from lug 'Il but the slide frame is held with the springs compressed by catch 'I8 and pawl 19 so that the slide frame is again ready for action. Further movement of gear wheel brings the mutilated portion of the gear wheel opposite gear wheel |25. Spring |50 has been tensioned in the meantime but is prevented from drawing gear wheel forward and through the sector without teeth because at the point at which this sector faces the gear wheel |25 the stop lug |32 meets arm |34.

The original position has now been completely restored, the receptacle Il is again in the process of beinglled and the weighing operation of the goods in transit to the sacks may be repeated.

Meanwhile the goods discharged from receptacle have passed chute |5| and hopper I9 and have been discharged through opening |54 into a sack 22 held in a spread out or expanded position by the blades 65 in position a. The goods fall into the sack, as soon as the receptacle has been tilted. Such tilting, as will be recalled has beenstarted by the lifting of frame 72 which withdrew stop arm |34 from stop lug |32. Simultaneously with the lifting of the stop arm |34 the link 225 and the stop arm 222 is lifted. Thereby stop lug 228 is released and spring 2|4 acting on arm 2|6 rotates shaft 2|8 so as to bring the toothed portion of wheel 23|! into engagement with wheel |25. Wheel 230 rotates and operates connecting rod |80 by pin |82, after an interval which has been produced by the fact that the pin first moved idly through lli the slot. Connecting rod moves push rod |13 which moves dog V55. Dog H5 advances, carrying one of the pins |l5 with it, and thereby rotates the disk |52 through 90. Thereby frame itil and the sack spreading mechanism holding the sack spread is advanced through The sack rests on fixed table |75 and when the spread-l ing mechanism on frame 54 moves its bottom resting on the table I'E slides over the table, but the sack moves with the frame. It is carried past the table into position b in which it clears the table and therefore drops down on conveyor 234 into one of the compartments formed between partition walls 235. This conveyor as explained is driven by the turntable 24 the disk i2 of which is keyed on shaft 74. Upon rotation of shaft 'E4 the sprocket wheels 2N, 209, the shaft 255 and the bevel gear wheels 2li) and 233 move the rollers of the endless conveyor, the relationship of which to the turntable is therefore permanently maintained.

Upon movement of the sack from position a to position b, the frame which was in position b is moved to position c. During this rotational movement the rails |88 entered between the heads |58 and drove the heads outwardly. Thereby the sack spreading blades 65 moved inwardly. The frame |54 which happened to be in position c was simultaneously moved to position d, the position of the spreading blades |35 remains the same during this movement. When the rotation through 90 is completed the attendant stationed near position d, draws a sack over the convergent blades and lifts handle 250, thereby removing the rails |34 from the spacebetween heads |68. The springs |52 therefore draw the heads towards each other and the sack is held between the spreading blades |55. t is carried to position a. in an expanded or spread out condition by the next partial rotation of the turntable through 90.

It will therefore be seen that a continuous filling, weighing and delivery operation is produced, with all the parts of the mechanisms brought back to their original position after each cycle of operations so that the said operation may proceed indefinitely.

It will be understood that the design of many details is of minor importance for the carrying into effect of the invention and that changes in the design will not operate to influence the general principle on which the invention is based.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a weighing and sacking machine for filling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously driven feeding conveyor, continuously supplied with goods to be delivered to the sacks and producing a continuous iiow of goods, a channel with a closable delivery opening, arranged near the delivery end of the feeding conveyors, said channel being provided with a substantially horizontal continuously moving conveyor, receiving the goods continuously discharged from the feeding conveyor iiow controlling and interrupting shutters temporarily shutting said opening, a weighing apparatus provided with a receptacle placed adjacent to said shutter controlled opening, means for operating said shutters controlled by said weighing apparatus, a chute for delivering the weighed quantities of goods to the sacks, means for delivering the weighed goods from the weighing receptacle into the chute, a sack conveying means for bringing empty sacks into position relatively to the chute and for removing the sacks when filled, a filled sack delivery conveyor for collecting and delivering the sacks removed from the filling position, a continuously operative driving means, motion transmission means temporarily coupled with the continuous driving means for intermittently driving the operating means of the flow interrupting gates, further motion transmitting means and coupling means for temporarily coupling the Said motion transmitting means with the continuous driving means, said coupling means being controlled by the operating means for the ow interrupting gates, the above motion transmitting means driving the sack conveying means and the sack delivery conveyor.

2. In a weighing and sacking machine for filling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a feeding conveyor system ,continuously supplied at one end with goods to be delivered to the sacks and producing a continuous flow of said goods, a collecting channel near the delivery end of the feeding conveyor into which the goods carried by the feeding conveyor are delivered, said collecting channel having a closable delivery opening, means `for moving. the goods in said channel towards said closable deliveryk opening, gates for temporarily closing said delivery opening so yas tov cause an `interruption of thecontinuous flow and an accumulation of goods at one side of the said gate, a weighing scale provided with a weighing receptacle below said delivery opening, into whichmthe goods delivered through the said delivery opening are discharged and weighed during an interruption of theflow of goods through the gates, means for controlling theflowinterrupting gates, said means beingcontrolled by said weighing mechanism,v a chutefor delivering the weighed quantities of goods to the saeks, means for `delivering the weighedfgoods from the weighing receptacle into thev chute, a sack conveying means for bringing empty sacks intoposition relatively to the chute and for removing the sacks when lled, aiilled sack delivery conveyor for collecting and delivering the sacks removed from the filling positiom a, continuously operative driving meansmotion .transmission means temporarily coupled with thel continuous driving means for intermittently driving the operating means of the flow interrupting gates, further motion transmitting means and conveyor, continuously supplied withA goods to be l delivered to the sacks and producing a continuousiiow of goods, a channel withraclosable delivery gate surrounding the delivery end .of said.V

feeding conveyor, a substantially horizontal continuously moving conveyor in said channel, movable gate shutters controlling the delivery of goods through said closable delivery gate, a

weighing apparatus provided with a weighing receptacle, located adjacent said delivery gate for collecting the goods intermittently delivered through the same, a Weight indicating means on said weighing apparatus, means for operating the movable gate shutters, controlled by saidv weight I indicating means, means forjemptying the lreceptacle controlled by said gate shutter operating means, a chute for delivering the weighed quantities of goods from the receptacle to the sacks, a sackuadvancing conveyor formoving the sacks into` a filling position relatively to the chute and for moving the sack from said position when lled with goods, a sack discharge conveyor onto which the sacks removed from the filling position are moved, continuous driving means and intermittent driving means, the latteradapted tobe coupled temporarily vvith the continuous driving meansunder control of the gate shutter operating e means and, when coupled, driving the means for emptying the receptacle, the gate shutter operating means, the sackvadvancing conveyor and the sackdelivery conveyor.

4. In a Iweighing and sacking machine for fillinggoodsin predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously moving feeding conveyor, continuously supplied with goods tobe delivered to the sacks and` producing a continuous flow of goods, a channel with a closable deliverygatesurroundingthe delivery end of said feeding conveyor, a substantially horizontal continuously moving conveyorin said channel, movabler gate shutters controlling the delivery of goods through said closable delivery gate, ak

weighing apparatusprovided with a weighing receptacle, located adjacent said delivery gate for collecting thel goods intermittently delivered through thesaidgates, a weight indicating means on said weighing apparatus, a gate shutter carrier, springs to keep it under tension when clearing the deliverygate, locking means for said gate shutter carrier, means operated by the weight indicatorfor releasing said locking means, means for emptying said weighing receptacle, controlled by said gate shutter carrier, a` chute for delivering the weighed quantities of goods from the receptacle to the sacks, asa-ck delivery conveyor for delivering the sacks filled with goods, a sack advancing conveyorfor moving the empty sacks into a filling position below the chute andthe sackslled withy goods to the sack delivery conveyor,v continuous driving means and intermittent drivingV means, the latter being adapted to be coupled `temporarily ,with the continuous driving means, driving the means for emptying the receptacle, thegate shutter, the sack delivery conveyorfor delivering the sacks vand the sacks advancelconveyor for moving the sacks toI and from the lling position, said temporary coupling being controlled by the gate shutter carrier andthereby ,by theweighing mechanism.,

5. Inaweighing and sacking machine for filling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously moving, feeding conveyor means, continuously supplied with goods to,V be delivered to the sacks and producing arcontinuous flow of` goods, a channel with a closabledelivery,gatesurroundrlg thedelivery end of said feedingJ-conveyor asubstantially horizontal continuously ,moving vconveyor in vsaid channel, movable gateshutters .controlling the delivery of goods., through` saidy closable` delivery gate a Weighing apparatus provided with aweighing. receptacle,u locatedadjacent to said delivery. gate for collecting ,the goods intermittently delivered through thesame, a weight indicating, means on Asaid weighing apparatus, a gateshutter carrier,

springs .to keep it .undertension when clearing the delivery. gate, locking .means for said. gate shutter carrierin-cluding acatch and pawl mecha.- nism,. electromagneticY means, for. .releasing said ',loclgingmechanism., anV energizing circuit for said electromagnetic means, switch means operated by said Weight indicator for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, means for tilting said weighing receptacle, controlled by said gate shutter carrier, means for returning the gate shutter carrier into its locked position, said means being controlled by the release of the gate shutter carrier and mechanically connected with the tilting means for the receptacle, a chute for delivering the weighed quantities of goods from the weighing receptacle to the sacks, a sack delivery conveyor for delivering the sacks lled with goods, a sack advancing table for moving the empty sacks into their filling position and for moving the sacks lled with goods to the conveyor means, continuous driving means driving the feeding conveyor and intermittent driving means, the latter adapted to be coupled temporarily with the continuous driving means, and driving the means for emptying the receptacle, the gate shutters, the said sack advancing table and the sack delivery conveyor for delivering the filled sacks, the coupling of said intermittent driving means with the continuous driving means being controlled by said gate shutter mechanism.

6. In a Weighing and sacking machine for lling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously moving feeding conveyor means, continuously supplied with goods to be delivered to the sacks and producing a continuous flow of goods, a channel with a closable delivery gate surrounding the delivery end of said feeding conveyor a substantially horizontal continuously moving conveyor in said channel, movable gate shutters controlling the delivery of goods through said closable delivery gate, a weighing apparatus provided with a weighing receptaclelocated adjacent said delivery gate for collecting the goods intermittently delivered through the same, a weight indicating means on said Weighing apparatus, means for operating the movable gate shutters controlled by said weight indicating mechanism, means for tilting the Weighing receptacle, means for returning the gate shutters after operation, a continuous driving means, an intermittently operative driving means for the weighing receptacle tilting means and for said shutter carrier return means, adapted to be coupled temporarily with the continuous driving means, a locking means on said last named driving means controlled by the gate shutter, means for effecting a coupling between the continuous and the intermittently operative driving means upon unlocking of said locking means, a chute for delivering the weighed goods to the sacks, a sack delivery conveyor for delivering the sacks filled with goods, a sack advancing conveyor for moving the sacks onto their filling position and for moving the sacks filled with goods to the sack delivery conveyor, and means for driving the last named conveyors intermittently adapted to be coupled with the continuous driving means, said coupling being controlled by the gate shutter operating means.

7. A Weighing and sacking machine, as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the continuous driving means includes a toothed gear Wheel and the intermittently operative driving means comprises a mutilated gear wheel, a shaft rotated thereby, an arm on said shaft, and a spring attached to said arm.

8. A weighing and sacking machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a stop lug on said mutilated gear wheel, and a stop arm operated by the gate shutter carrier and adapted to release said stop lug, for engagement with the continuously driving gear Wheel.

9. In a weighing and sacking machine for lling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously moving feeding conveyor means, continuously supplied with goods to be delivered to the sacks and producing a continuous flow of goods, a channel with a closable delivery gate surrounding the delivery end of said feeding conveyor a substantially horizontal continuously moving conveyor in said channel, movable gate shutters controlling the delivery of goods through said closable delivery gate, a weighing apparatus provided with a weighing receptacle, located adjacent to said delivery gate for collecting the goods intermittently delivered through the same, weight indicating means on said weighing apparatus, a gate shutter carrier, springs to keep it under tension when clearing the delivery gate, locking means for said gate including a catch and pawl mechanism, electromagnetic means for releasing said locking mechanism, an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic means, switch means operated by said weight indicator for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, controlled by said gate shutter carrier, a stop lug on said gate shutter carrier, continuously operated driving means, including toothed wheels, an intermittent driving means for returning the gate carrier after operation, said means including a mutilated gear Wheel adapted to be brought into engagement with the continuously driven gear wheel, an arm driven thereby, adapted to engage the stop lug on the gate shutter carrier, means for emptying the receptacle controlled by said gate shutter, carrier, a chute for delivering the weighed quantities of goods to the sacks, a sack delivery conveyor for delivering filled sacks, a sack advancing table for moving the sacks into their filling position and for moving the sacks lled With goods to the sack delivery conveyor, and driving means for the said conveyors, positively coupled with each other and controlled by the gate shutter carrier, which is controlled by the weighing mechanism.

10. In a weighing and sacking machine for lling goods in predetermined quantities into sacks, in combination, a continuously moving feeding conveyor means, continuously supplied with goods to be delivered to the sacks and producing a continuous oW of goods, means for temporarily interrupting said continuous flow of goods, a weighing apparatus, control means for said flow interrupting means, operated by said Weighing apparatus, a tiltable receptacle hinged to said weighing apparatus for receiving the goods to be weighed, a tilting mechanism adapted to tilt said receptacle, means to operate said tilting mechanism, controlled by said flow interrupting means, and operated after operation of the latter, a chute for delivering the goods discharged from said receptacle into the sacks to be filled, an endless conveyor for delivering the sacks when filled, a sack advancing table for moving the sacks into their filling positions and for moving the sacks when lled onto the sack delivery conveyor, continuous driving means, means temporarily coupled With said continuous driving means for operating said receptacle discharge controlling means, and further means interlinked with said last named means for driving said sack advancing table and sack delivery conveyors both controlled by the means for interrupting temporarily the continuous flow of goods.

11. In a weighing and sacking machine as claimed in claim 2 in which; the sackadvancing.

conveyor comprises a turntable` consisting. of. a central diskv and` attached .frames eachV frame provided with sack spreadingmeansa xed supporting table of limited. length located above the. sack discharge conveyor, and means for advanc.

ing said turntable.

12. In a weighing and sacking machinefor .fill-1.

ing predetermined quantities of goods into sacks,

a continuously moving conveyormeans continu-.

ously supplied with the goodstobe-sacked-.and producing a continuous ow of` goods towards the discharge end, means for delivering. the goods into the sacks, aweighing mechanism between said continuous feeding means and said delivery means, said mechanism dividing the continuously fed goods into quantities of equal predetermined Weight, means for interrupting the continuous flow of goods vtemporarily and periodically,vcon trolled by said weighing mechanism, a further discharge conveyor for sacks lled with goods, a rotatable. turntable above said discharge conveyor. provided with projecting drive members, a driving mechanism provided with continuously driven members, intermittently driven members adapted to be coupled-With said continuously driven` members, said intermittently driven members consisting of mutilated gear wheels, a stop lug on said gear wheel and a stop arm engaging said stop lug, means connected withV the 110W interrupting means to operate said stop arm, a push rod connected with and moved by one of said mutilated gear wheels, a push dog, operated by said connecting rod inoperative .relation to the projecting drive members of the turntable, drive means for theV discharge conveyor and means for connecting said drive means with the turntable.

13. In a Weighing andA sacking machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for delivering the sacks lled with goods to the discharge conveyor include arotatable turntable consisting of a rotating central disk and of frames. attached thereto, sack spreading blades pivotally suspend- 16 ed on said frames and provided with extension heads, a spring betweenfthe said spreading blade extensions, and a spreading frame above the turntable for guiding said extension heads and for producing aconvergence of the spreading means.

14. In a weighing and sacking machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the intermittently driven members comprise a mutilated gear provided. with a .stop lug, an arm controlled by the meansfor stopping thecontinuous ilow of goods, cooperatingwith the stop lug of one of the mutilated gears, and holding it in its ineffective position and means for turning said mutilated gear wheel When released.

15. Afweighing and sacking machine as claimed in .claim 6, wherein the intermittently operative driving means each comprise a mutilated gear wheel, provided with a stop lug, a stop arm cooperating with said stop lug holding said mutilated gear wheel in its inoperative position with respect to the continuous drive, one of said stop arms being controlled and operated by the means for operating the gate shutters, a link between saidI stop. arms to operate the stop arms conjointly and means connected with each mutilated gear wheel to turn the same into an operative position when the stop arm releases the stop lug.

OVID T. HORN.

REFERENCES CITED The `following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,560 Nickerson Feb. 5, 1901 675,771 Eisenhart June 4, 1901 931,800 Reuther et al Aug. 24, 1909 1,507,650 Woolcott Sept. 9, 1924 1,602,578- Ingram Oct. 12, 1926 2,254,384 Nowak Sept. 2, 1941 2,319,908 Walter May 25, 1943 

